Shahira & the Flying Elfs by Anna del C. Dye

Author:Anna del C. Dye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: tolkien, magic, young adult, elf, ya, wizard, eagle
Publisher: Anna del C. Dye

Chapter Five

Dangerous Territory

Huntan circled once, then landed close by. “You can come out now,” he spoke in elfish.

“What happened?” asked Nedin.

“Two of the other eagles wanted to know what I was doing here.”

“What did you tell them?” Edingel wondered.

“The truth. I’m keeping an eye on the terrain surrounding the eagle’s nests. They welcomed my help and even suggested reintegrating me in the council now that Shahira’s gone.”

“You were in the council before?” asked Llorradinn.

“I was the head of the council, ten winters ago, but Shahira’s presence provoked a great stir when they discovered that I had let her live with us.”

“If we can solve this problem and Shahira returns with us to our land, they will be obliged to give that prestigious position back to you,” Nedin said.

“Thank you.” He bowed. “However, if they discover that she’s alive, they may turn against me and kill all of us.”

“We will protect Lady Shahira to the end,” Llorradinn responded. “Though we hope it leads us not into a fight with the wise-ones.”

“Llorradinn protect Shahira.”

“With my life, my lady.”

“Our races were good allies in times of yore, and we respect and care for your majestic race,” declared Edingel, “but if we have to defend ourselves —we will.”

“I understand.” Huntan cocked his head. “We’d better move now,” he added. “We’re almost there.” With that, he took flight and landed a few hundred feet from them, near a cliff.

When the elfs got to him, Huntan said, “I’ll cover your ascent to the nest with my body. Stay behind me at all times and lay low once inside.”

“We understand,” Nedin replied.

They used their elfin rope to climb up the side of the nest and then dropped one by one inside in complete silence.

Once they were all hidden in the nest, Huntan informed them, “I’ll return with the first light of morning. If you need me before then, I’ll be behind that hill. Shahira, make sure the eagles don’t see you. If something goes wrong, call my name in the eagle tongue.”

“Promise,” she replied, and hugged the eagle.

“Would her cry alert the other eagles?” worried Llorradinn.

“She sounds like an eagle. The rest won’t know. If she calls my name, no one will answer or interfere.”

“In any case, she will call only in dire circumstances,” Edingel said, watching the majestic bird leave.

“I spotted the nest we are to watch. It is over there.” Nedin pointed carefully. “If we work some of these branches loose, we may be able to spy on it without being seen.”

They worked quietly until they had a small hole in the wall of the nest.

“The parents are there,” observed Edingel. “Now we just wait.”

“Wait. … Why?” Shahira asked.

“To see if we can spot who is stealing the eggs,” whispered Llorradinn. “I think I will let you take the first watch. I need to rest for a moment,” he told Edingel.

“Eat some of the meat from my backpack before you do,” Edingel told him, without taking his eyes from the neighboring nest.

“Thank you. I will do that.

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